Puri: A private firm has allegedly duped unemployed youths to the tune of Rs 9 lakh by promising them jobs. The fraud came to light after hundreds of youths duped by the firm met superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi here Wednesday seeking action.
The complainants alleged that Gramin Kishan Bikash Agro Purpose Cooperative Society had promised to engage them as data entry operators in panchayat and blocks offices and duped them of 9.23 lakh.
The dubious firm had collected Rs 5,000 from each of the duped to engage them in panchayat level, Rs 7,000 for block level and Rs 10,000 for district level. As many as 200 unemployed youths are duped by the firm, they alleged.
The youths told the media that the private firm issued them appointment letters and identity cards. “The firm has duped hundreds of job seekers of Rs 2 crore in different districts in the state and complaints were lodged against the firm at various police stations,” said Kulamani Maharana, one of the duped youths.
The firm claims that it is a multi-state cooperative society which is registered under the Ministry of Agriculture under Section 7 of the Multi state cooperative society Act. The firm further claims that it is authorised to operate in West Bengal and Orissa and engaged in various schemes of the government like database preparation for PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, EIS, SIEP, NPS, insurance mutual fund and demat account. The firm had promised to provide Rs 9,000 salary to candidates in panchayat level, Rs 15,000 in block level and Rs 40,000 in district level.
The complainants alleged, “During our employment, we collected Rs 50 from each person for issuing them Aadhaar card on behalf of the firm. However, people complained that they did not get their Aadhaar cards even after six months of the application. Similarly, the firm duped Rs 50,000 from two persons in the district by promising them to open demat account in their names.”
The complainant said told the media that hundreds of youths from Jajpur, Kendrapara and Balasore districts have complained against the firm to the Crime Branch.
SP Sarthak Sarangi said, “I have received the complaint against the firm and a probe will be conducted into the matter.”
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